Artist Paul Lock launches his debut solo exhibition You Simply Are at the Noho Showrooms from 15 – 18 November.

Lock first picked up a paintbrush six years ago, taking inspiration from his mentor Keith Robinson and hasn’t stopped painting since. His subjects are like a roster of 20th century legends; from Pablo Picasso, Audrey Hepburn and Muhammad Ali; to Ziggy Stardust, Jimi Hendrix and George Michael. All gazing directly back from the canvas as if still strutting their stuff.

Although a recent starter to the artistic scene Lock has a unique approach to portraiture, using face-mapping painting techniques to create highly stylised artworks. Francis Bacon meets Frank Auerbach but with the iconic immediacey of pop artsit Roy Lichtenstein.

Paul Lock’s latest muses include the world’s first ever supermodel Twiggy and award-winning actor Bill Nighy, both of whose iconic portraits will be included in Lock’s forthcoming exhibition. He says of his portraits, “I want to convey a likeness but I also want to create a painting. A painting that recognises the form and essence of the person while containing something of me, the painter.”

Beyond painting portraits Lock works from his Thames-side studio to create electrifying, almost luminous abstract landscapes. Real and imagined scenes that entice the viewer to step into his technicolour dreams. “I continually strive to harmonize the freedom of colour and mark making with creating an engaging image. What seem to be mistakes underpin something new and fresh that becomes part of the painting.”

Engrossed in a world of colour and shape, Paul Lock studies images for hours, his artistic process demonstrating a rollercoaster of excitement, frustration and elation. In art critic Estelle Lovatt’s words, “Paul is a striking artist engaging a balance between mark making, colour and line.”

Paul lives in Surrey, England with his wife and daughter. When he’s not creating art, Paul helps people to realise the simplicity of living a more inspired, peaceful and fulfilled life.www.paul-lock.com